Range



Dec. 27, 1938. A. STCCKSTROM El AL 2,141,831

RANGE Filed April 26, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 27, 1938. A, STOCKSTROM ET AL RANGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 26, 1937 Dec. 27, 1938. A. STOCKSTROM ET AL 2,141,831

RANGE Filed April 26, .1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Am r? i231? W 626 i 12 gwumwzws Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlc RANGE Jersey Application April 26, 1937, Serial N0.139,055

Claims.

Fully and semiautomatic gas and electric ranges provided with oven and cooking top heat control mechanisms are well known and mom common use, but so far as we are aware a coal 5 burning range of the full or semiautomatic type and provided with thermostatic heat control for its ovens and its cooking top has never been developed notwithstanding the public need for a range of this type.

We have developed a coal burning range which is fully automatic and in which successful automatic temperature control of the oven and the cooking top is obtained.

As will appear hereinafter from the following detailed description when read in the light of the accompanying drawings, our range embodies a fuel hopper from which coal or the like is under fed mechanically to the burner pot or box by a power driven conveyor and in which a power 20 driven fan provides a force draft to the burner pot whereby the fire or heat is-increased in 'accordance with the demands of a thermo responsive device, which device controls the operation of the power means which drivesthe fuel conveyor and the fan. 7

Accordingly the. primary object of our invention is the provision of a new and improved coal burning range or range burning a solid fuel and in which the temperature of the range oven and cooking top are thermostatically controlled.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a stove having the hereinbefore described attributes in which the control of temperature in the range oven and of the range 35 cooking top is obtained through thermo means which controls the delivery of both air and fuel to the solid fuel burning burner of the range.

Other and further specific objects, novel features of construction and improved results obtainable and present in our improved solid fuel burning range will appear in more detail from the following description in combination with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings one embodiment of the improved invention is illustrated with the invention shown as applied to what is commonly referred to as a table top range but it is to be understood that the present invention can be utilized in respect to ranges of various types as well as to various kinds of cooking ap- 55 claims.

is not limited to any particular'type of range but In the drawings: 1

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a range embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the range illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. r

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the range with the range top broken away and portions appearing therebeneath shown in horizontal section to better illustrate the construction of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a detailed view, partially in vertical section, of the drive connection to thescrew conveyor.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the thermo operated electric switch. 7

Describing the invention in detail and utilizing similar reference numerals to designate similar parts throughout the description it will be seen that the range is provided with a conventional top frame 1 upon which is supported a series of plates 2, 3, 4 and 5. The plates 2, 3 and 5 constitute the cooking top portion of the range while the plate 5 constitutes a removable cover for the fuel hopper whichis designated as an entirety by the letter A.

Behind the range cooking top a conventional splash back 6 extends upwardly and through the 'entire length of the cooking top and is provided with a suitable high shelf 1.

The range base is designated at 8 and supports the main range body within which is positioned an oven B to which access is had through a suitable door 9 and a burner pot C to which access is had through a suitable door I0.

The hereinbefore referred to fuel hopper A is also in the range body and between this hopper and the end wall ll of the range we have pro- .vided a suitable chamber or space [2. within which are positioned a suitable drive motor is and a fan 14 together with other mechanical mechanisms detailed description of which will be hereinafter given. Accessto the chamber 12 is obtained through a suitable door 15. The fire or burner pot C is of more'or less conventional constructionand is disposed within an air duct or respectively. Air inlet openings ,lll com municate with the air box. l6 and with the hollow portion 19 oft-he fire pot which is in turn in communication with .the upper end and burning portion of the fuel column through suitableair openings 20.

It will be seen that the burner pot has a downwardly extending tubular portion 2| the lower .end of which is in communication with a fuel pipe 22 the opposite end of which terminates in and receives fuel from the lower end of the fuel hopper A. A suitable worm conveyor-23- when driven, in the manner to be hereinafter described, delivers fuel to the burner pot from the under side or bottom thereof.

The burner pot is disposed between the insulated end wall 24 of the range and one side wall 25 of the oven. The pot is considerably below the cooking top plate 2 and the end wallof the range and the side walls of the oven adjacent and above the burner pot are protected by suitable refractory lining 26-and 21 respectively.

The oven is defined by a bottom wall 28 which is in spaced relationship to the insulated bottom 29 and a side or end wall 30 which is in spaced relationship to the insulated vertically disposed wall 3| which constitutes one wall of the fuel hopper A and an oven top 32 which is in spaced relation to the under sides of the plates forming the cooking top of the range; The disposition and construction of the oven as described provides a flue 33 above the oven-having communication at one end with the space above the burner pot and at its other end with the vertical fiue 34 at the side of the oven and a horizontally disposed fiue 35. beneath the oven, which flue communicates with the range flue outlet 36.

Thermostatic temperature regulators in themselves arenot novel and for the most part are either mechanical in nature by which we mean that there is a solid thermo element which actuates suitable mechanical means to effect a temperature control, or are of the liquid type by which we mean the thermo responsive portion of the regulator is in the form of a suitable bulb or the like which contains a liquid which is expansible when subjected to heat and through its expension and contraction effects the desired heat control. In the present embodiment of the invention 'we have illustrated the liquid type of regulator but it is to be understood that other types could be used should it be found desirable;

Referringnow to the thermo heat controlling mechanism illustrated in connection with the present improved range it will be seen that the bulb portion 3'! ofthe regulator is disposed within the oven and that the temperature setting wheel or dial 38 is positioned. in a suitable opening formed in the upper right hand corner of the door l5 of the range. As devices of this kind are fully understood by those skilled in the art it is not necessary to describe its operation in detail but its manner of cooperation in the present invention will be hereinafter referred to. a

The motor I 3 herein referred to is illustrated as being an electric motor and through a belt connection 39 drives the fan I 4 through rotation of the fan shaft 40. This fan shaft extends into a suitable gear box 4| and carries a worm gear 42 which has driving connection with a second worm gear or wheel 43 which in turn carries an eccentric 44. The screw conveyor 23 has a shaft portion 45 which extends into and through the gear box and has its end 46 terminating exteriorly of the end wall I I of the range. A ratchet wheel 41 is secured to the conveyor shaft 45 within the gear box and has cooperating with it a pawl 48 which is periodically operated by the eccentric 44.

The ratchet wheel 41 is provided with a collar 49. A shear pin 50 extends through the collar and the extending end portion 46 of the conveyor shaft at a point exterior of the range and provides driving connection between the ratchet wheel and the conveyor. By providing a drive connection of this kind and positioning the pin 50 exteriorly of the range it will be seen that renewal of the shear pin is facilitated in the event the conveyor becomes jammed due to some foreign substance being intermixed witlrthe coal.

It will be recognized that when the fan is not in operation there will be no appreciable amount of draft through the fuel bed due to the resistance to the flow of air through the fine coal burned in this type of burner and. due further to a resistance afiorded by the fan and the air duct which connects the fan with the fire pot. As a consequence when the fan is not running the fire dies to a point where its heat delivery is quite negligible. This is quite an important feature of the device.

It will be understood that the operation of the motor and as a consequence the operation of the fan and the fuel feeding screw, is under the control of the thermoresponsive element. This element actuates an electric switch S which controls the supply of current to the motor. When the heat setting of the dial is above the temperature,within the oven the thermo element permits the electric switch to close and start the motor which through the force draft to the bluner pot and the delivery of fuel to the pot will cause a rapid generation of heat within the range body and consequently beneath the range cooking top plates and in the flues surrounding the oven. When the temperature within the oven has reached that called for by the dial setting the thermo element will cause the electric switch to open and thus stop the electric motor which will in turn cause the fire in the .flre pot to rapidly die to a minimum.

We have carefully charted actual operation of a range built in accordance with the present invention and have found the operation to be highly satisfactory.

By locating the thermo element of the heat regulator within the oven accurate and uniform temperature control has been obtained and this also makes it possible to control'the temperature of the cooking top plates for' the reason that the temperature of the plates will always have a direct relationship to the temperature within the oven. We recognize however that the thermo element could be placed other thanin the oven and temperature control still be obtained. As instances of where the thermo element might be placed we mention the flue 33 above the oven; either of the fiues 34 or 35 or the stack outlet flue 36. It will thus be seen that in either position the thermostat 31 will be directly in the heat from the range and that it is affected by the heat of the fire the oven top and the cooking top, and that the heat from these elements is thereby controlled by said thermostat. The desirui heat of the oven and the cooking top is therefore obtained and maintained by placing the thermostat within the oven, thereby preventing any lag or overshoot that may occur in the heat which is required to carry out our invention.

With a range constructed in accordance with the present invention we have found that there is a decided fuel economy due to the fact that cheap grades of fuel can be used as perfect combustion takes place by reason of the fuel being fed to the bottom towards the top of the burner pot which causes all of the evolved gases to be power means other burned. Additionally a fire can be kept burning for long periods without attendance due to the dormant condition in the fire pot when the fan is idle. We have found that if it is desired to maintain a minimum fire over night or for a longer period this can be accomplished by setting the temperature dial in the neighborhood of 150 which will cause the stoker and fan to run about five minutes out of every hour. It is to be realized of course that the length of time of operation of the fan and stoker is dependent upon variables such as that of the room temperature and the degree to which the range is insulated as well as the area of the cooking top plates and'other factors which will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

It has also been found that removal of ashes is reduced to a minimum and when soft coal is used it is only necessary to remove an occasional clinker and very little ash, while with hard coal as a fuel there is practically no ash to be removed as the ash is so fine that the major portion of it is carried out the fiue or chimney.

Another feature of the present invention is that of the provision of a fully automatic solid fuel burning range having a thermostatic heat control which is of an appearance equally as pleasing as that of gas or electric ranges. By reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings it will be seen that none of the working parts utilized to provide a range having the particular advantages of the present range are visible exteriorly of the range. All of the working parts which would be unsightly are concealed within the range body yet at the same time are quickly available for inspection or repair through provision of suitable doors.

Although we have described our thermostatic temperature regulator as operating an electric switch to control the delivery of current to an electric motor which is utilized as the power means for driving the fuel conveyor and air delivery fan,'we fully recognize (and we wish it to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to this particular embodiment of construction) that than an electric motor could be utilized and could be fully and adequately controlled by thermostatic control. We have illustrated, an electric motor as the power means because-we believe this to be the preferable construction and one which will accomplish the desired results in a cheaper, simpler and most efficient manner.

Having described one embodiment of my invention the application thereof to solid fuel burning devices of varying construction will be obvious and we limit our invention only within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. An automatic self-contained solid fuel burning range comprising a housing having a cooking top, an oven within said housing below but separated from said cooking top, a solid fuel fire pot within said housing and at one side of said oven, a solid fuel hopper within said housing, a passageway between the lower ends of said fire pot and said hopper, a fuel feeding member in said passageway, an air blower within said housing communicating with said solid fuel pot and a thermo stat controlled by the heat within the said housing from the said fuel pot and said oven whereby the thermostat automatically maintains the heatof both said oven and said cooking top.

2. An automatic self-controlled solid fuel bumingrangecomprising ahousinghavingacooking top, an oven within said housing below but separated from said cooking top and forming a flue between the oven and cooking top, a solid fuel fire pot within said housing at one side of said oven, a solid fuel hopper also within said housing, a passageway extending beneath the oven and having its ends communicating with the lower ends of the hopper and said fire pot, afuel feeding member located in said passageway and feeding fuel from the hopper to the lower end of said fire pot, a thermostat located within the said oven and controlling the heat from said fuel pot the heat within the oven and the heat supplied to the said cooking top and also controlling the operation of said fuel feeding member, whereby the thermostat automatically maintains the heat of both said oven and said cooking top.

3. An automatic self-contained solid fuel burning range comprising a housing having a cooking top, an oven within the said housing below but separated from said cooking top and forming a fiue between the oven and the cooking top, a solid fuel fire pot within said housing and located at one side of the said oven, a solid fuel hopper also within the said housing and located at the opposite side of the oven from said fire pot, a passageway beneath said oven and having its ends communicating with the hopper and the said fire pot, a fuel feeding member in said passageway and feeding fuel from the hopper to the lower end of said fire pot, an air blower also located within said housing and communicating with the said fire pot, a motor also located within said housing for actuating said fuel feeding member and said air blower, a thermostat within said housing controlling said motor the heat from said solid fuel fire pot the oven the cooking top the fuel feeding member and the said air blower, and thereby maintaining the heat generated for both said oven and said cooking top.

4. An automatically controlled self-contained solid fuel burning range, comprising a'housing, a solid fuel burning fire pot also in said housing, an oven also within said housing, a solid fuel hopper also within said housing, a passageway between the lower ends of said hopper and said fire pot, a fuel feeding member in said passageway and feeding said solid fuel from the hopper to the lower portion of said fire pot, an air blower also within said housing and also communicating with said fire pot, a motor also within said housing and operating said feeding member and said air blower, a thermostat within said housing and actuated by the heat from said fuel fire pot and said oven said thermostat operatively controlling said heat from said fire pot the heat within said oven the operation of said airblower and the fuel'feeding member.

5. An automatically controlled self-contained solid fuel burning range, comprising a housing containing within itself the following elements, a cooking top, an oven, 9. solid fuel burning pot, a hopper, a passageway between the lower ends of said hopper and said solid fuel pot and beneath said oven, a fuel feeding member in said passageway, an air blower communicating with said solid fuel pot, a motor operatively connected with said air blower and solid fuel feeding member, and a thermostat located in said oven and operatively connected with and controlling said motor the air blower the fuel feeding member and finalLv thereby controlling and maintaining the heat of both the cooking top and the said oven.

ARTHUR STOCKSTROM.

GEORGE P. EICHELSBACH, J3. 

